I do not support what Manning did (release thousands of diplomatic cables) but

[arely staircase]

I have come to believe he was motivated by good, but naive intentions, and I believe he was/is a troubled soul as it relates to his sexuality and gender identity. Those facts do not excuse his guilt but they should mitigate his punishment. If I were the judge I would give him 5-10 minus time served. More likely the 5.

[bravenak]

1. I agree.

No lifetime inprisonment.

[1awake]

2. I would give him time served and send him home. n/t

[msongs]

3. and for people who execute women and children w/out trial/conviciton, what would you do? nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. Employ them at the Pentagon and the White House?

[arely staircase]

8. start an OP on it and I'll koin the discussion. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

4. do you think all transgender people are "troubled souls" or just Bradley?

[msanthrope]

5. Ahem--according to the psychologists testifying for the defense, Manning has some pretty

serious issues related to his gender identity--

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — Pfc. Bradley Manning's private struggle with his gender identity in a hostile workplace put incredible pressure on the soldier who leaked classified information to WikiLeaks, an Army psychologist said Wednesday.

Manning eventually came out to Capt. Michael Worsley and e-mailed the therapist a photo of himself wearing a wig of long, blond hair and lipstick. The photo was attached to a letter titled "My problem," in which Manning describes his issues with gender identity and his hope that a military career would "get rid of it."

SNIP-

Navy Capt. David Moulton, a psychiatrist who spent 21 hours interviewing Manning at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after his arrest, testified as a defense witness that Manning's gender identity disorder combined with narcissistic personality traits, post-adolescent idealism and his lack of friends in Iraq caused him to reasonably conclude he could change the world by leaking classified information.

"He became very enthralled with this idea that the things that he was finding were injustices that he felt he morally needed to right," Moulton said.

He said Manning was struggling to balance his desire to right wrongs with his sense of duty to complete his Army tasks and his fear of losing his GI benefits and the opportunity attend college. "His decision-making capacity was influenced by the stress of his situation for sure," Moulton said. "He was under severe emotional stress at the time of the alleged offenses."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/14/manning-sentencing-hearing-wikileaks/2651539/

This is testimony from the defense.

[arely staircase]

9. because of society, yeah absolutely

many struggle very hard. I have known some who have tried to take their own lives

[Hippo_Tron]

7. I think the question is whether or not he seriously endangered anyone's life

If he put someone in the military or the CIA's life in danger because of what he leaked, then yea that warrants serious time. But as far as I know, the prosecution was unable to demonstrate that. And if nobody's life was endangered, he doesn't need to be serving anywhere near life in prison, especially if he wasn't committing espionage.

Considering his treatment in prison, time served is probably adequate.